‘(Re)Imagining a Fair Food System’ theme of fifth annual food summit

February 22 -- Foodies across southeastern Michigan are gearing up for Washtenaw County’s fifth annual HomeGrown Local Food Summit, which will be held on Friday, Feb. 22. Ecology Center staff members have been involved in the planning of the summit for the past few years, especially Hillary Bisnett, director of the Ecology Center’s Healthy Food in Health Care program.

The theme for this year’s conference is “(Re)Imagining a Fair Food System,” and keynote speaker is Malik Yakini, executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in the city and led the establishment of the Detroit Food Policy Council.

In addition to many other honors and awards, Yakini is a recipient of the James Beard Foundation Leadership Award. He views the “good food revolution” as part of the larger movement for freedom, justice and equality and he has presented at numerous local community meetings and national conferences on food justice and implementing community food security practices.

“In addition to looking forward to Malik’s presentation, I am really excited that the summit will include a couple of sessions on the food and health connection, as well as feature a local health professional engaged in producing food at her facility,” Bisnett said.

Registration is now open for the conference, to be held at Washtenaw Community College; one of the most-appreciated highlights of the day, attendees will be able to sample some terrific fresh foods from a variety of local growers, producers and vendors.